Bill Gates and the obsolete DVD
July 15, 2004
Bill Gates recently stated that the DVD would be obsolete
in ten years. I wonder, if that is true, if the CD will also? I can't imagine it will be
so, but I could be wrong -- he is after all, Bill Gates!
Franz
I don't doubt that we'll see a different kind of
storage system for movies and music in the future. With ever-faster download speeds and
very inexpensive storage of data, it seems inevitable. The iPods of the world are just so
prevalent, mainly due to their convenience and ability to store and organize huge music
files. In many ways, they already have replaced portable CD players, so it's not hard to
imagine that one day DVD will be replaced by something else. My guess: In ten years, the
landscape will have changed, and Bill Gates will be proven right. Only time will tell.
Quad or Dynaudio?
July 12, 2004
I have read GoodSound!'s review on the Quad 21L, and I agree with your
observations and comments about this great new speaker from Quad, as I have auditioned
this speaker as well. I have auditioned the Audience 52SE and they sound great, too. So
right now I'm divided on which speakers I want for my system. I like both speakers, though
I need your comments and recommendations to help me finally decide which one to get. Any
additional info on these speakers will be a great help.
Robin
If you've heard both speakers you're in a better
position to compare and contrast the two candidates than me. I do have two pieces of
advice, however. The Quad is a floorstander and the Dynaudio is a stand-mounted speaker.
The Quad, therefore, does have a little more potential for delivering deep bass. This is
born out in the speakers' specifications, with the Quad rated to play about 10Hz lower.
Listening will tell the tale, though, which brings me to my second point. If you have the
ability to hear both speakers in your room you'll get a much better idea of which model
will suit you long-term. That's really the only way to know for sure which you prefer.
Speakers for a new system: part two
July 10, 2004
Thanks for replying to my original query about good
bookshelf/satellite speakers. In your reply you have said that I will definitely need a
subwoofer to get good bass effect from a bookshelf speaker. Since I am planning on getting
a subwoofer anyway, will a bookshelf or a satellite speaker also be enough? I want to be
able to place the front speakers on the fireplace mantle and hang the surround speakers on
the wall. I will definitely consider the Paradigm on-wall speakers, but wanted to know if
there was something else also that might work well for me. If I do go with a bookshelf
speaker, in order to get the best sound, do they have to placed away from the wall or can
I place them on the fireplace mantle (they would be almost touching the walls) and still
get great results?
Thanks again for your valuable input.
Gary
There are several factors you must take into
consideration here: first, placing a speaker very close to a wall will change its sound.
At the very least you need to buy a speaker that interacts as little as possible with room
boundaries -- and that may mean a speaker that has very little bass output (if the bass is
not there, it can't interact with boundaries). Second, the speakers' height on the mantle
will determine their sound to an extent. If the mantle is tall, you'll be listening below
the tweeters' axis, and the speakers may not be optimized for such an installation. I
still think the better solution is to buy a speaker -- either an in-wall or an on-wall --
that is engineered to sound good very near a boundary and perhaps at varying heights.
You'll have the best chance for good sound with a speaker designed for your application.
Integrated amp
July 8, 2004
I have some extra equipment (B&W 602 and Marantz
CD-67SE), and want to build a bedroom system. I'm looking for an integrated amp to go with
the speakers and CD player. Most of what I'll play on the system will be
children's music and pop, and will play at what some consider low volume. A
full-function remote control is a must. The room is approximately 26' x 29'.
Could you recommend some good integrated amps that match
the need?
Best regards,
Visanu
Your room size is definitely a consideration -- it's
huge, and even at low volumes you need adequate power for those B&Ws. I'd recommend at
least 80W, with 100W being better still. As an alternative to an integrated, with the
power levels I think you need, I'd look at something like the Anthem pair we reviewed on June 1. If you're
dead-set on a single-component solution, listen to the Denons and Rotels -- and not just
their integrated amps, but stereo receivers as well. There's a lot of value in receivers
these days, and they're much more prevalent in the marketplace than integrateds.
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